Total stripdown and rebuild of my rusty 325i sport

[Stevevrs]

I love them too, its just a shame that people dont encourage resto's like this more.
Ford owners have a totally different attitude it would seem. In 10 years time , with the scrap it mentality , these cars will be rare, with stupid price tags attached like Escorts.
I would have outed my Cabbie as i have no garage but a mate has kindly donated his so i can save it.

[Gert_8]

The E30 was one of the best selling cars in its time, and kick started BMW's success.

I see nothing wrong with reducing the numbers so that it benefits from same valuations as the older fords. It's nice to see resto jobs, but I don't mind seeing the real shite-boxes being scrapped.

Everyone wants the prices to go up, you only have to see the unrealistic money asked for in the sales ads by some.

Reduced availability, will increase prices, and this is the only way the E30 will ever achieve the "Classic" status, i feel it deserves.

[Rich320I]

I love them too, its just a shame that people dont encourage resto's like this more.
Ford owners have a totally different attitude it would seem. In 10 years time , with the scrap it mentality , these cars will be rare, with stupid price tags attached like Escorts.
I would have outed my Cabbie as i have no garage but a mate has kindly donated his so i can save it.

agreed, it is great to see a full resto being done. having owned quite a few rs2000/ mexicos. the above is relatively solid compared to some of the shells restored. its just about time and money at the end of the day. looking forward to updates

[SStuart]

bump

[Fastroad]

[Split_S]

Its an insane rebuild...I guess you and I have something in common considering my bare *ss rusty 318iS shell in my garage....

[Stevevrs]

Everyone wants the prices to go up, you only have to see the unrealistic money asked for in the sales ads by some.

Reduced availability, will increase prices, and this is the only way the E30 will ever achieve the "Classic" status, i feel it deserves.

Wrong.
What's the problem with the E30 remaining affordable ?
If you want an expensive classic buy a M3, for me the term classic means nothing more than cheap insurance.
They will become more expensive as they slowly rust out naturally , I love seeing so many still floating about.
The thing is in 10 years time when E30's are getting thin on the ground , cars like this one will have people lining up to save it.
Escort syndrome is shit, I for one hope the E30 doesn't end up on the same shelf, I enjoy parking mine anywhere knowing it's gonna be there in the morning

[Gert_8]

Everyone wants the prices to go up, you only have to see the unrealistic money asked for in the sales ads by some.

Reduced availability, will increase prices, and this is the only way the E30 will ever achieve the "Classic" status, i feel it deserves.

Wrong.
What's the problem with the E30 remaining affordable ?
If you want an expensive classic buy a M3, for me the term classic means nothing more than cheap insurance.
They will become more expensive as they slowly rust out naturally , I love seeing so many still floating about.
The thing is in 10 years time when E30's are getting thin on the ground , cars like this one will have people lining up to save it.
Escort syndrome is shit, I for one hope the E30 doesn't end up on the same shelf, I enjoy parking mine anywhere knowing it's gonna be there in the morning

The E30 was an aspirational car, hence the fact that it appealed to all the young, up and coming. It was priced so that the peasants couldn't afford it. Unfortunately, now they can, hence the bodged, chav chariots.

Increases in prices can only be a good thing to restore the social order of things and put these out of reach of individuals after a cheap ride.

[Stevevrs]

Everyone wants the prices to go up, you only have to see the unrealistic money asked for in the sales ads by some.

Reduced availability, will increase prices, and this is the only way the E30 will ever achieve the "Classic" status, i feel it deserves.

Wrong.
What's the problem with the E30 remaining affordable ?
If you want an expensive classic buy a M3, for me the term classic means nothing more than cheap insurance.
They will become more expensive as they slowly rust out naturally , I love seeing so many still floating about.
The thing is in 10 years time when E30's are getting thin on the ground , cars like this one will have people lining up to save it.
Escort syndrome is shit, I for one hope the E30 doesn't end up on the same shelf, I enjoy parking mine anywhere knowing it's gonna be there in the morning

The E30 was an aspirational car, hence the fact that it appealed to all the young, up and coming. It was priced so that the peasants couldn't afford it. Unfortunately, now they can, hence the bodged, chav chariots.

Increases in prices can only be a good thing to restore the social order of things and put these out of reach of individuals after a cheap ride.

Yes, I get your point.... But affordability ain't such a bad thing.
I gave my 18 year old my 4 door when I got the cabbie, he's hooked ,he's learning to drive in it, L plates on a 325i lol.
An affordable classic that needs some work, not a bad way to cut your teeth .
I wouldn't have done that if it was an over inflated "classic"
Suffice to say, save them all before it's to late

[polsta]

Everyone wants the prices to go up, you only have to see the unrealistic money asked for in the sales ads by some.

Reduced availability, will increase prices, and this is the only way the E30 will ever achieve the "Classic" status, i feel it deserves.

Wrong.
What's the problem with the E30 remaining affordable ?
If you want an expensive classic buy a M3, for me the term classic means nothing more than cheap insurance.
They will become more expensive as they slowly rust out naturally , I love seeing so many still floating about.
The thing is in 10 years time when E30's are getting thin on the ground , cars like this one will have people lining up to save it.
Escort syndrome is shit, I for one hope the E30 doesn't end up on the same shelf, I enjoy parking mine anywhere knowing it's gonna be there in the morning

The E30 was an aspirational car, hence the fact that it appealed to all the young, up and coming. It was priced so that the peasants couldn't afford it. Unfortunately, now they can, hence the bodged, chav chariots.

Increases in prices can only be a good thing to restore the social order of things and put these out of reach of individuals after a cheap ride.

once all the sheds and cheaper cars- that drifters are buying up to abuse, and breakers, and zoner types wanting a cheap hoon around type, that these cars all then end up being driven until fragged, and those sports etc that are hanging about now with mots but need restoring, when they also do not get saved and become too rotten to mot and also deemed un viable to be restored, or fall in to the hands of the fraggers, and there just are no sheds with mots about on the roads

then things will dramaticly change, even now over the last year or 2 prices have steadily creeped up for e30s and 2 door models of any sort

you only even have to compare to other 80s cars like xr2s and xr3s and aster gte, etc etc etc, that rusted away and fell off the roads faster then e30s, and from new to used, the higher amount that bmws always commanded over them

a nice xr2 now can set you back 5 grand, with its baked bean can build quality and woiuld still have shoddy door cards etc , soon as any sort of mk1,2, fiestas dropped off the roads and all the xr2 sheds dissapeared to scrap and fragged or restored.,....the prices rocketed, quite quickly really

[Gert_8]

They have a big following. Owners, like myself, that moved them on for newer toys, are now seeking them out again, perhaps to relive their younger days or go back to a car that was pretty good to drive in its day. These are the people with the cash, and the ones that will fuel the price increases.

There are still far too many available, but the good ones are commanding good money. The fact that your 18 year old enjoyed one as a first car is a good thing - it creates a new enthusiast, and may also put another in the scrapper after having served its purpose.

Personally, it wasn't safe enough for my own, due to the lack of safety features considering a new driver.

Prices are/will only go one way, so enjoy while you can. Don't try and mess about with the science of economics..

[Andyboy]

It's a 325i Sport and as such it needs saving. Given that any genuinely decent example is worth £4500 with prices edging upwards, it's financially worthwhile.

[pacerpete]

It's a 325i Sport and as such it needs saving. Given that any genuinely decent example is worth £4500 with prices edging upwards, it's financially worthwhile.

I disagree, a car that rusty and bodged will not be a two owner 60k car that was unlucky. It WILL be a horrid multi owner molested high milage sh1tbox. It will never be a nice car without spending twice its value. When there are still nice cars around, why waste time and money on gold plating a turd ?

The only justification for a resto of that magnitude if the car is rare, has interesting history / ownership (15 owners , in Birmingham and on the list does not equate to interesting , though it is ! ) or you enjoy working on turds .

Any fresh pics ?

[Stevevrs]

They have a big following. Owners, like myself, that moved them on for newer toys, are now seeking them out again, perhaps to relive their younger days or go back to a car that was pretty good to drive in its day. These are the people with the cash, and the ones that will fuel the price increases.

There are still far too many available, but the good ones are commanding good money. The fact that your 18 year old enjoyed one as a first car is a good thing - it creates a new enthusiast, and may also put another in the scrapper after having served its purpose.

Personally, it wasn't safe enough for my own, due to the lack of safety features considering a new driver.

Prices are/will only go one way, so enjoy while you can. Don't try and mess about with the science of economics..

For some that have the ability , the enjoyment is in saving a car not just about its financial worth. If your hoping your E30 is going to be your pension I think you may need a part time job when you retire ,a˜‰

[e30topless]

It's a 325i Sport that has been molested/uncared for and not looked after for 20 years....Given that any genuinely decent examples are hopefully worth £4500 (almost a quarter of the original purchase price) on eBay with a bit of shill bidding and a delusional buyer...you may get lucky and get some of your 10k back

[Grrrmachine]

I expect that a lot of sports, even those trading over 5000k, actually look like this under the carpet. And for all the crustiness, I don't think it's that bad.

The issue is that you're not doing the work yourself. Giving it to someone else, even a mate, generally means they might not meet your or a future buyer's standard. And if it's someone doing a job cheaply, such as mate's rates, there's a greater incentive to bodge - to plate over rather than cut out, to spray on cheap acrylic paint rather than a zinc primer to keep the moisture out, that sort of thing. It also means that you're not in control of the project timescale; as soon as your mate gets a better work offer, he'll ditch your project and you'll be up shit creek.

Buy a MIG and get cracking at it yourself.

[Gert_8]

They have a big following. Owners, like myself, that moved them on for newer toys, are now seeking them out again, perhaps to relive their younger days or go back to a car that was pretty good to drive in its day. These are the people with the cash, and the ones that will fuel the price increases.

There are still far too many available, but the good ones are commanding good money. The fact that your 18 year old enjoyed one as a first car is a good thing - it creates a new enthusiast, and may also put another in the scrapper after having served its purpose.

Personally, it wasn't safe enough for my own, due to the lack of safety features considering a new driver.

Prices are/will only go one way, so enjoy while you can. Don't try and mess about with the science of economics..

For some that have the ability , the enjoyment is in saving a car not just about its financial worth. If your hoping your E30 is going to be your pension I think you may need a part time job when you retire ,a˜‰

No, I'm not that deluded, but it's nice to think it isn't losing money like most cars do, and if I came to selling it, I may POSSIBLY get at least what I paid for it.

[Fastroad]

Has the work started on this?

[Stevevrs]

They have a big following. Owners, like myself, that moved them on for newer toys, are now seeking them out again, perhaps to relive their younger days or go back to a car that was pretty good to drive in its day. These are the people with the cash, and the ones that will fuel the price increases.

There are still far too many available, but the good ones are commanding good money. The fact that your 18 year old enjoyed one as a first car is a good thing - it creates a new enthusiast, and may also put another in the scrapper after having served its purpose.

Personally, it wasn't safe enough for my own, due to the lack of safety features considering a new driver.

Prices are/will only go one way, so enjoy while you can. Don't try and mess about with the science of economics..

For some that have the ability , the enjoyment is in saving a car not just about its financial worth. If your hoping your E30 is going to be your pension I think you may need a part time job when you retire ,a˜‰

No, I'm not that deluded, but it's nice to think it isn't losing money like most cars do, and if I came to selling it, I may POSSIBLY get at least what I paid for it.

Lift your carpets and make sure yours aint a shiter,

[Gert_8]

For some that have the ability , the enjoyment is in saving a car not just about its financial worth. If your hoping your E30 is going to be your pension I think you may need a part time job when you retire ,a˜‰

No, I'm not that deluded, but it's nice to think it isn't losing money like most cars do, and if I came to selling it, I may POSSIBLY get at least what I paid for it.

Lift your carpets and make sure yours aint a shiter,

It's been done.

[Jatin]

Work has already started. I'm helping along the way. I'll post snaps of the process.

[Fastroad]

[goosiegander]

As was said before my M3 restoration got underway

'Balls of steel...'

Best of luck with it!

[Andyboy]

It's a 325i Sport and as such it needs saving. Given that any genuinely decent example is worth £4500 with prices edging upwards, it's financially worthwhile.

I disagree, a car that rusty and bodged will not be a two owner 60k car that was unlucky. It WILL be a horrid multi owner molested high milage sh1tbox. It will never be a nice car without spending twice its value. When there are still nice cars around, why waste time and money on gold plating a turd ?

The only justification for a resto of that magnitude if the car is rare, has interesting history / ownership (15 owners , in Birmingham and on the list does not equate to interesting , though it is ! ) or you enjoy working on turds .

Any fresh pics ?

Now, maybe. But nobody is weighing in rotten 13 owner 150'000 mile RS2000's - look on that PH thread where a bloke has rebuilt one from an absolutely f ucked shell.

No, this doesn't warrant a full on major rebuild, just enough work to keep it solid and useable for a paedo to rebuild again in 5-10 years.

[bss325i]

Do it right do it once?

[DanThe]

Will you be acid dipping and 'e coating' this?

[bss325i]

There would not be much left once its out the tank!

[Fastroad]

There would not be much left once its out the tank!

Will give a true diagnosis of how big the patches need to be a˜±

[DanThe]

No temptation to cut corners

[Jatin]

Acid dipping eh. Nope unfortunately we don't have the means to do that. Old fashioned way I'm afraid

[Fastroad]

Acid dipping eh. Nope unfortunately we don't have the means to do that. Old fashioned way I'm afraid

Nothing wrong with that .... Any progress yet? Like to see what section you decided to start with.

[Jatin]

Some of the bits done.
Rear arches tack welded and ready for seam welding.
Engine/gearbox out and all ancillaries to follow.

[Fastroad]

Any pictures of the inner arches?

Doesn't look so bad in the pictures

[Stevevrs]

Looks like its had some welding before , around jacking point.

[Jatin]

When we looked the inner arches seemed fine but didn't take any snaps of that.